Expert: Dan Griffin - 6/17/2009

Question
kind regards I am having a two story extention built but i have been told the area I live in, the houses have been built on rafters but some havent, is there any way i can check before i get bilders diging and start charging me extra

Answer
Kez,  I'm sorry I don't understand the problem.  I'm sure it is simply a matter of different terminology.

If you already have a contract with a builder, I would guess you have a total money contract that includes labor and material.  There may be a clause in the contract that would allow a renegotiation for an unforseen condition.  If you have a time and material contract it should contain a "not to exceed" amount.  Either type of contract should give you some control of costs.

I do not know what "built on rafters" means.  I'm guessing it would be what we term a crawl space foundation where there are concrete spread footings with the ground floor joists resting on stem walls that bear directly on the footing.  There would be an opening in the stem wall somewhere for access to plumbing, etc.  It would be a small crawling space between the subgrade and the bottom of the floor joists.

Another major footing type here would be a slab on grade - concrete poured on a select fill with the plumbing, etc  buried under floor with no access.

The one other major footing type here would be a basement.

I hope this does answer your question